Color the US Flag and Learn Japanese!
This is a free coloring page of the United States flag, known worldwide as the “Stars and Stripes.”
While this is a familiar symbol, did you know how it is described in the Japanese language? Let’s learn some Japanese vocabulary while you color!
Japanese Vocabulary: How to say “USA”
In Japan, there are a few ways to refer to the United States.
- Amerika (アメリカ): This is the most common way to say “America,” written in Katakana script used for foreign words.
- Beikoku (米国): This is the Kanji (Chinese character) representation for the USA. The character “Bei” (米) literally means “Rice,” which stems from a phonetic transliteration, but it is widely used in news and formal writing to represent America.
What is “Seijoki”?
The US flag specifically has a beautiful name in Japanese: Seijoki (星条旗).
- Sei (星): Star
- Jou (条): Stripe or Streak
- Ki (旗): Flag
So, “Seijoki” literally translates to “The Star and Stripe Flag.” It’s a perfect description of the design!
Activity Idea for Learners
After coloring the red stripes and the blue canton, why not try writing “アメリカ” (Amerika) or “星条旗” (Seijoki) in the empty space of the paper? It’s a great way to combine art therapy with language study.